Recently I had the opportunity to meet with community leaders to learn about a deeply important local resource to our city that has been sorely neglected, the Duwamish River.

The Duwamish is a huge part of our history as Seattleites.Â Itâ€™s the only river that runs through Seattle.Â For thousands of years the river has served as the primary food source for the people that live on and around the river, and communities throughout generations have called the Duwamish home.Â As someone who is proud to have lived in Seattle my entire life, I was inspired to learn about the history and legacy of the river, and the rich culture of the Duwamish tribe. I was alarmed, however, to learn more about the riverâ€™s current state and negative impact on our cityâ€™s public health.